Instacoll is a revolutionary two-part gilding system developed by
Kölner for both exterior gold leaf gilding and interior leafing with
gold, silver, and composition metal leaf. The system allows gilders to achieve
an exceptional high-gloss or mirror-like finish without traditional agate
burnishing. This makes Instacoll especially valuable for projects where a
brilliant reflective surface is desired but the traditional water gilding
process is impractical.
Instacoll is a water-based system consisting of a base coat and an
activator. The Instacoll base is first applied to a properly prepared
surface and allowed to dry completely. Once dry, a thin layer of Instacoll
Activator is applied to reactivate the surface, making it receptive to
metal leaf. After the activator dries (typically within 5–10 minutes),
the leaf can be applied. If necessary, the surface can be reactivated again
with additional activator.
The system has an unlimited open gilding time, allowing leaf to be
applied whenever the activator is used. The highest mirror-gloss results are
achieved when gilding onto a perfectly smooth surface using genuine patent
gold leaf. Instacoll can be applied to a wide range of stable surfaces
including properly primed wood, plaster, metal, and other prepared
substrates.
The Instacoll system includes several components designed for different
applications, including Instacoll Base (Yellow or Clear), Instacoll
Activator, Instacoll High Active (HA) for heavier gold leaf, and Instacoll
Matte for decorative matte effects. Additional tools such as specialized
brushes, burnishing chamois, and leaf pressing tools are also available to
support the process.
